2024-25 NCAA Football (Week 11)

Games I saw (some of):

Michigan 15-20 (8) Indiana

With the way Indiana has been trucking people all year long and as middling as the Wolverines have been, I kinda thought this would be an easy one for the Hoosiers. But Michigan does have a pretty good defense and they got into the Hoosier backfield routinely and Indiana found it difficult to convert on 3rd down. But Indiana pulled it out, they made the plays on both sides down the stretch, got the score they needed and I think this is exactly the kind of struggle they needed to make them a better team. Indiana is going to make the playoff--shocker to be sure, but luring in marginal teams is what the 12-team playoff is all about--and matches like this will make them a tougher out. As for Michigan, a flailing season but they're still playing hard and that is good to see. 

(11) Alabama 42-13 (15) Louisiana State

Bama has been up and down but they brought it here. LSU still has a turnover problem, they just can't consistently put enough points on the board to keep up with the gifts they're giving their opponents. I'm lukewarm on QB Millroe but this was one of his classic games. Alabama still on track to make the playoff but I think this result finishes off LSU.

Top 25

Handled their business

(1) Oregon, (2) Ohio State, (5) Texas, (6) Penn State, (7) Tennessee, (10) Notre Dame, (11) Alabama, (12) Boise State, (16) Mississippi, (20) Colorado, (21) Washington State, (23) Clemson, (24) Missouri, (25) Army

Won but did not impress

(8) Indiana. Didn't rack it up, but made the plays they needed to make late and, well, maybe that was more impressive than I'm giving it credit for. 

(9) Brigham Young. Hey, man, you can say they got bailed out by a fluky penalty, but the call wasn't so egregious and they finished the long drive to win it and they deserved it. That said, this game really shouldn't have been close (but Utah plays with pride). 

Bad beat

(15) Louisiana State. Sorry, LSU, you needed to beat Alabama but you didn't. 

Not so good

(3) Georgia. Losing at Ole Miss is forgivable but they got smoked in the 2nd half and it was another poor performance from QB Beck. 

(4) Miami. Looks like they were never in this game, I could forgive a conference L on the road but Miami is bucking for a bye in the playoff and I just don't think this team is good enough.  

(17) Iowa State. Yeah, I was never in on the Cyclones this season and I'm still not. 

(18) Pittsburgh. Pitt is a nice team but probably not a top 25 team. 

Next week's intriguing matches

(17) Clemson @ Pittsburgh (Clemson should be rolling by now but they're not; Pitt is coming off a tough L, should be ready to go this week)

Utah @ (18) Colorado (Utah, too, is coming off a heartbreaker, wouldn't be surprised to see them give the Buffaloes a scare)

(24) Missouri @ South Carolina (the Gamecocks have a lot of nice W's this season, not gonna be an easy out for Missouri)

(6) Tennessee @ (11) Georgia (Okay, both teams need this W, if Beck plays mistake-free, I think UGA is better but we'll see)

My Top 12

1 Oregon

2 Ohio State

3 Texas

4 Brigham Young

5 Penn State

6 Indiana

7 Georgia

8 Notre Dame

9 Alabama

10 Tennessee

11 Southern Methodist

12 Mississippi

(Miami, Boise State, Army, Texas A&M, Colorado still lingering)

2018-19 NCAA Football (Week 5)

Games I saw (some of):
(4) Ohio State 27-26 (9) Penn State
Man, those Buckeyes keep gettin' it done. I thought they were the lesser team against TCU and I thought that again here. When Penn State went up by 2 TD's in the 4th, I thought it was over. But the Buckeyes have a way of making the big play. So are they actually good or will this luck run out at an inopportune moment? We'll see. Nittany Lions played their way out of the playoff (I guess) largely by overthinking that 4th down call late (shouldn't ever have gotten that close), but they look good to me, I'd be kinda surprised if they lose again in the regular season.

Tennessee 12-38 (2) Georgia
I kinda thought UGA would drop a big ol' bomb on UT but this game was actually kinda close in the 4th quarter. Georgia struggled to put distance between themselves and a lesser team that's also a major rivalry and that gives me pause. Georgia has talent all over the field but that offense sputters at times. This game doesn't look close but it shouldn't have been even this close.

(7) Stanford 17-38 (8) Notre Dame
Fun game! Notre Dame scored early and held the lead throughout but they didn't take off til late so this game was still exciting for the first three quarters. The Irish have a way of playing at half-speed instead of just running right past everyone. This was a good effort on both sides, best W of the year for them.


Top 25
Handled their business
(1) Alabama, (2) Georgia, (4) Ohio State, (5) LSU, (6) Oklahoma, (8) Notre Dame, (10) Auburn, (11) Washington, (12) West Virginia, (13) Central Florida, (16) Miami, (17) Kentucky, (19) Oregon, (21) Michigan State,


Got it done but did not impress
(3) Clemson (oof! Man, they were lucky to pull that game out late, is it just  something about Syracuse or are the inner turmoils deeper than they look? I dunno, but Clemson need to get it together, they have yet to look as strong as they ought to)
(14) Michigan (are they any good?)
(18) Texas (are they any good?)

Bad beat
(7) Stanford (if they'd caught the slow-mo Irish they could've won this game but when Notre Dame is on, they're tough to beat at home)
(9) Penn State (I dunno, man, second year in the a row they couldn't close out the Buckeyes...otherwise the Nittany Lions look strong; they gotta figure out Urban Meyer)

Not good
(20) BYU, (22) Duke, (23) Mississippi State, (24) Cal, (25) Texas Tech (okay after #15 or so, seems like there's quite a drop off)